Changes your photographic expression with unique angles —
shooting with the vari-angle LCD monitor
The D5100 incorporates an approx. 921k-dot, 7.5-cm (3-in.), wide-viewing-angle, vari-angle LCD monitor that realizes comfortable movie and Live View shooting. The LCD monitor opens horizontally from 0° to 180° and flips up and down from +180° to -90°. Highly improved operability when shooting from a high or low angle allows you to shoot with a stable posture while confirming composition even if shooting from ground level. You can enjoy new, creative expressions by shooting from various angles and discover unique points of view.
- The LCD monitor is protected from dirt or damage because it can be stored when not in use.
Various scenes captured taking advantage of the vari-angle LCD monitor
- High angle
It is easy to shoot from a high angle holding the camera with an outstretched arm, even if there are many people standing in front of you.
- Self-portrait
You can compose your image precisely by checking the LCD monitor facing you.
- Tripod shooting
The horizontal swing-out LCD monitor makes it easy to shoot with a tripod. Remote close-up shooting is available using the rear infrared receiver to prevent image blur caused by camera shake.
Allows you to compose your photograph precisely and focus on a desired point viewing the LCD monitor — Live View shooting
Live View shooting gets the most out of the vari-angle LCD monitor. You can shoot while confirming your subject with the large, easy-to-view, 7.5-cm (3-in.) VGA (approx. 921k-dot), wide-viewing-angle (170°), 100% frame coverage LCD monitor. The dedicated Live View switch realizes simple, smooth switching from shooting with the finder to Live View shooting. Also, contrast-detect AF lets you focus on a desired point within a frame.
Three focus modes — selectable according to your subject
-Single-servo AF (AF-S)
Suitable for a stationary subject such as landscapes, architecture or flowers.
-Full-time-servo AF (AF-F)
Convenient for shooting a moving subject which is usually difficult to focus on, such as a child or pet. Available in both Live View mode and movie recording. Camera focuses continuously, after shooting starts.
-Manual focus (MF)
Manual focusing. Suitable for a subject for which autofocus is difficult, such as an animal in a cage or a person in the shade with the sun in the background.
Four AF-area modes — automatically focus on someone's face or a moving subject
-Face-priority AF
Suitable for focusing on someone's face such as for a commemorative photo.
-Wide-area AF
Suitable for handheld shooting such as for a landscape. AF area can be moved to a desired point within the frame.
-Normal-area AF
Convenient for shooting with pin-point focus such as for a close-up of a flower. Using a tripod is recommended for more precise focusing.
-Subject-tracking AF
After focusing is activated, AF area tracks the subject automatically. Suitable for a moving subject such as a child or pet.
- Face-priority AF
Recommended combination of focus mode and AF-area mode
- Single-servo AF and wide-area AF
Suitable for a stationary subject
- Full-time-servo AF and subject-tracking AF
Suitable for a moving subject
Records movies more beautifully and easily —
full HD movie-recording function: D-Movie
The D5100 offers high-image-quality full HD movie recording at 1,920 x 1,080/30p. You can shoot creative movies easily, not only taking advantage of shallow depth of field, high ISO sensitivity performance and a variety of interchangeable NIKKOR lenses of digital SLR cameras but also utilizing the vari-angle LCD monitor and special effects mode of the D5100.
Contrast-detect AF is possible and if you set full-time-servo AF (AF-F) for focus mode and subject-tracking AF for AF-area mode, focus point tracks even a moving subject continuously and three-dimensionally.
Optional Stereo Microphone ME-1 compatible
In addition to monaural recording with the built-in microphone, the D5100 lets you record stereo sound with optional Stereo Microphone ME-1. Using Stereo Microphone ME-1 also reduces noise caused by lens vibration being recorded during autofocus shooting.
Furthermore, you can select the sensitivity level for either the built-in microphone or Stereo Microphone ME-1, choosing from auto, high, medium or low according to shooting conditions. Select low for scenes in louder environments, such as a concert hall; high for quieter environments, with more delicate sounds, such as a murmuring stream.
In-camera movie editing functions
You can edit your movie easily without a PC. It is possible to delete unwanted parts by choosing the start or end point in single frame units, and save a selected frame as a JPEG image with the same image size as that of the selected movie frame.
D-Movie frame size, frame rate and maximum recording time
Movie quality |
Quality |
Bit rate (high/normal quality) |
Maximum length |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|
Frame size (pixels) |
Frame rate |
|||
1,920 x 1,080 |
30p (29.97 fps)1, 2 |
★ high/normal |
18 Mbps/10 Mbps |
20 min.4 |
25p (25 fps)2, 3 |
||||
24p (23.976 fps) |
||||
1,280 x 720 |
30p (29.97 fps)1 |
10 Mbps/6 Mbps |
||
25p (25 fps)3 |
||||
24p (23.976 fps) |
8 Mbps/5 Mbps |
|||
640 x 424 |
30p (29.97 fps)1 |
4 Mbps/2 Mbps |
||
25p (25 fps)3 |
||||
- Available when NTSC is selected for video mode.
- Not output to television during recording.
- Available when PAL is selected for video mode.
- Movies recorded in miniature effect mode are up to 3 minutes long when played back.
Sample movie
Note: The video shown here was taken using the D-Movie function, then converted to Flash Video format for ease of handling. Image quality varies from the original.
